TEDx Organizers

Travel, photography, hiking, teaching, being a dad

"Education is My Purpose, Teaching is My Passion" I don’t just teach—I ignite curiosity, nurture confidence, and inspire young minds to think beyond the classroom. Education, for me, is not about rote learning or memorization; it’s about empowering students with the skills, mindset, and passion to navigate the world with confidence. My journey as an educator has been defined by a deep commitment to mentorship, experiential learning, and leadership development. Whether I’m guiding students through foreign language learning, organizing TED-Ed events, leading historical projects like the Palkhi monument, or fostering real-world learning experiences, my goal remains the same: to create fearless learners who question, explore, and lead. I am passionate about creating engaging, meaningful, and transformative learning environments where students don’t just gain knowledge but discover their own potential. Teaching is not just my profession—it’s my mission to inspire, uplift, and shape the next generation of changemakers. Education is not about preparing students for exams—it’s about preparing them for life. My passion lies in ensuring that every student I teach walks away not just with knowledge, but with the confidence to create their own future.

Finding ways to promote community theatre's relevancy and to make it more accessible to everyone in our community. Reuse / Repurpose / Recycle Gardening

Art,Mentorship and social change

Okong’o is the co-founder and executive director of the Queer African Network (QAN), a social and professional networking platform for LGBTQI+ persons of African heritage. Growing up in Kenya, Okong’o experienced firsthand the life-threatening isolation that comes from battling daily systemic oppression. Virtual networks sustained him until he found acceptance in his immediate environment. His desire to extend this lifeline to others led him to establish QAN and motivated him to establish global networks of solidarity with LGBTQI+ communities of African heritage in Nairobi, Johannesburg, Vancouver, San Francisco, and New York, all while studying and working for the TED Fellows program and the feminist consultancy Kore Global. Okong’o received the Strangway Award for Excellence (full academic scholarship) to study at Quest University Canada, where his thesis (which inspired QAN) received the showcase award. QAN thereafter received the Young Feminist Award and Okong’o presented at the NGO CSW65 Virtual Forum at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Okong’o previously received the Allan Gray Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurial Thinking and was selected to the Bezos Scholar Program.

The Ocean, My beautiful family, My inspiring friends, Trying to fly, Discovery, Humanity, Energy, Our Minds, Learning, Quiet Moments to myself, Time

Youth leadership and empowerment Agricultural innovation Climate-smart agriculture Humanitarian action Road safety advocacy Social entrepreneurship Education and skills development Community resilience Sustainable Development Goals Building partnerships that create lasting impact

Listening to people and sharing ideas.